Blown Shock/Strut??
 

Hey guys
I might have a problem with the rear left shock.
The left rear seems to be about 3/4inch lower then the rear right.
I've looked to see if there is any oil around the suspension and can't seem to find anything that would make me think there could be a leak. The car feels normal for the most part but its hard to tell with snow tires on.
Now I don't know if there could be something wrong with the valving inside the shock and if the components are different from the regular rx8 suspension-- I have a 40th AE with the bilstein suspension and Tein S-techs springs.

I've also have jacked the car up to take the weight off the rear left and lowered the car to let the suspension settle- right after lowering the car the ride height seems to be at the normal height but after a couple of miles the car settles the extra 1/2-3/4 inch.

Now I know that the OE shocks (not bilstein) have been known blow/fail. I don't know if this could be the same situation with the Bilstein shocks. My car has 29K on the odometer- S-techs have been installed for about 14K. The reason why I say this is because i know that lowering the car can cause the suspension components to ware faster. I have a oil change coming up soon (900 miles) I will have it looked at more closely at that point.

I've already have got a price on a new rear shock ($380 for one) just in case it needs to be replaced. Can anyone beat that price???

What do you guys think and have anyone had problems with the Bilstein Stocks/struts?

Thanks in advance guys

Anyone got any input on this?

Took a look at the suspension today with a buddy (Mechanic/rx8 owner). We are now thinking that it could be the spring sagging for reasons unknown. I'm going to buy another set of S-tech and install the rears and see what happens when they settle. That's where I'm at now -- i will keep updating with new info for future reference for people.

I seen this on my old at. Pointed this out to mike his 8 was the same so was a few other members. My mt is the same. I tryed looking could not find anything wrong other than ride hight.

^ I've search and read this info too. the only thing that makes me wonder is that after almost a year and thousands of miles it has dropped a good 1/2inch+ over night. The drop all around was level up til about 2 weeks ago. We'll see what happens

the driver side will sit a little lower since most of the time only thr driver is in the car. yeah it sounds crazy but i went through this same proccess.

Not sure about your setup but on stock shocks it is possible to get the springs located wrongly in the bottom holder . ..............

^ yeah that's what we thought could have been the problem but when we got under there and took a look everything looked like is was seated properly and tight.

Are you guy trying to keep me away from buying a new set of teins? Is it worth the $180 for a new set?

does it really bother you with how your car sits? and can you notice it just by looking at it?

well here's the thing
It's noticeable and I'm installing a set or 18x9.5 works in the spring and i know that the clearance would be alright without the extra sag that's going on. I'm just trying to avoid a rubbing problem or have to role the fender. I was going to just go down the replacement road to take all the variables out of the clearance equation.

Good move???? or another solution??

personally.. I would just leave it how it is. I did that for a long time on mine, then I got coilovers. If you cant notice any differnace why spend the money on it. save the money for something else..

^ I still think there will be clearance problem when the wider tires go on in the spring.

I should take a couple pictures so you guys can compare the 2 sides. I wouldn't mind the extra sag if I was going to run OE wheels year round.

I'll try to get pixs up tomorrow - check back

FYI!

:scratchhe A local member Jason has the tein bassic and said he had to adjust one side more than the other. So I dont think the shock is blown due to the fact his tein bassic coilovers came with shocks :yesnod:

I'm not thinking its a shock. Only sag within the spring

if it bothers you this much. you with a nice set coilovers.

^ I was thinking about going that route. Got a few prices already.

True, but is it really the coilovers? ask some of the guys that have more $ ones and see what they say.

Well it looks like its going to be a shock problem

Last weekend a buddy of mine help me out by rotating just the rear springs to see if the we could get the other side of the car to sag. Well the left rear was still about 1/2 3/4inch lower even after the rotation. So it looks like the Bilstein shock is having a valving issue.

Got to replace it asap before I put on my new wheels in the spring. i can get a replacement for about 350--- they go for 550 each. I would love to go with a coilover KW3 but thats just not in my budget at the moment.

If you are on a budget, you can go with a set of Tokico D-specs. Can be had new for around $500-550 for the full set, then another $30 or so for the rear adjustment cables (damping rates can be adjusted).

That's an idea but im going to just replace the blown shock and save for the KW3's

$350 for one shock is a lot. I just figured you could throw on a set of d-specs then unload them later on when you get the coil overs, then you'd probably come out ahead of just buying one shock. :)

I thought about this
the labor involved demounting-remounting- and over time and effort trying to unload them isn't something that a want consume my day doing.

Bilstein's are a good shock and im sure i could get what I paid for the new L/R I need when I decided to sell all 4 when get the coilovers in the future.

yea replacing one is MUCH easier than 4